Sofa-bedstead.



N0.894,805.V v l H. 0.7AIKEN- y SOFA BEDSTBAD.

LPPLOATION FILED MAR Z8 1906 PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wmznoz l WWA HARRY C. AIKEN,.OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Y sorA-isiiiis'ria.AD.V

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, l1908.

Application filedMarch 28, 1906. Serial No. 308,504.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. A1KEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sofa Bedsteads; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sofa bedsteads and has for its primary object to provide an article of this naturel which may be converted from a sofa into a single or a double bed as may be desired. and in' which the working parts are entirely hidden from view.

A further object of the invention is 1to provide means for firmly supporting the structure inthe various positions in which it may be used, the supports other than those used to support the structure when it is in the form of a sofa being foldable to a position where they will be hidden from view.

A. further feature of the invention resides in the fact that no lifting of the parts of the structure is necessary to convert it into a single or double bed'and back into a sofa, thereby rendering the same easy in operation.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation 'of the device, when in the form of a sofa, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device in position for useas a single b ed, a portion ofthe end supporting frame being broken away. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the device when in the form of a double bed. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation partly in section of the structure when in use as a sofa, a portion of the mattress which is carried by the sections forming the back of the sofa being broken away to show the construction of the springs of the said portions. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the construction and manner of use of the foldable supports, Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the support folded and illustrating also the spring cushion construction embodied in the invention, and, Fig.. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view through one of the stiles .of one of the end frames of the device. 4

Referring more specifically to the drawings, my invention comprises av pair of end supporting frames 10 each comprising upper and lower rails and stiles 11 and 12 which connect the said upper and lower rails; The

stiles 12 are mutually connected by means of a bar 13 which serves to support the foi-ward end of a member 14 which forms the seat of the sofa when the structure is used as such, the said member 14 serving, as will be presently understood to support one member of a pair of hinged bed sections when the device is in use as either a single or a double bed.

The bed sections above referred to are indicated by the numerals 15 and 16 and are hinged as at 17, the section 15 having a width equal to that of the ordinary single bed, and the section 16 being of suicient width to form a double bed when its width is added to the width of the section 15. When the parts of the structure are in position for use as a sofa, the section 15 forms the back thereof and rests with its lower edge upon the upper edge of the section 16 which section in turn has its lower edge resting upon the floor.

As shown in the drawings, each of the sections 15 includes a rectangular frame and to the ends -of the frame of the section 15 are secured in any suitable manner the ends of the right angularly turned end portions 18 of a rod 19, the said rod being held, by reason of the right angularly turned end portion in spaced relation to the frame of the section 15. Secured at intervals to the rear edge of the member 14 and extending upwardly therefrom are metallic straps 20 w ich have their upper ends curved rearwardly and upon themselves to form the eye members 21 of a hinge, it being understood that the rod 19 forms the pintle thereof and that the hinged connection thus formed between the sections 15 and 14serves tosupport the said section 14 when the device is being used as a sofa.

For. a purpose to be hereinafter described, each of the stiles 11 is provided in its inner face with a groove 22 which, as it approaches the lower end of the stile is curved slightly forwardly as at 23. The section 16 is provided at a suitable point adjacent its lower edge and upon each of its ends with a pin 24 which is designed to workin the groove 22 in a manner to be hereinafter fully described. The member 15 is provided with a false front 25 between which and the adjacent portion of the main frame ofthe member and at each end thereof is 1 ivoted a support 26 for the said member w en the structure is in use as a bed. Each of the supports 26 comprises a rod or standard of metal or other suitable material which is bent, at a point directly below the frame of the member 15, laterally as will be seen that to convert the at 27 at right angles to the main portion 26 around at their and thence upwardly as at 28 at right angles tothe portion 27.

At a point in alinement with the upper edge of the frame of the member 15 the sup ort is again bent laterally as at 29 to exten directly above and in parallel relation to the portion 27, the extreme end of the portion 29 being bent downwardly and pivoted as stated between the false front 25 and the frame ,proper of the member. It will be readily understood that the supports 26 are arranged to receive the ends of the member 15, the -said ends being adapted to rest upon the portions 27 of the said supports. As is shown in Fig. 1, when the structure is in use as a sofa, the supports are swung upwardly and into. position between the main frame of the member 15 and false front 25 thereof and are thus hidden from view by the said false front until they are again required, the said supports being held in proper position between the portions of the structure above mentioned by means of a pin 30..

From the foregoing it will be seen that the structure when in the form of a sofa may be converted from the said form into a single bed by swinging the section 15 which forms the back of the sofa downwardly and forwardly upon the hinge formed by the pintle 19 and eye members 21. Furthermore it single bed thus formed into a double bed, all that is necessary is to raise the section 15 and pull it forwardly together with the member 14, it being readily understood that the pin 24 working in the groove 22 will cause the seetion 16 to assume a horizontal position, it being obvious that the curvature of the groove is for the purpose of properly starting the section 16 upon its said movement.

Rods 31 have their ends bent to form eyes 32 through which are engaged screws or other suitable fastening devices which serve to secure the ends of the rod to the end pieces of the frames of the members 14 and 15, the said rods being bowed outwardly from the said frame as shown in the drawings. Connected at their ends to the sides of the frame of the above mentioned members are wires 33 which extend across the series of rods 31 and are wound around said rods at their points of intersection therewith, the framework thus formed being covered with burlap or vthe like as shown.

Secured at their outer ends to the sides of the frames of the sections 15 and 16 are helical springs 34, the said springs having their inner ends connected by means of rods or wires 85, it being understood that the springs are secured at corresponding points upon the sides of the frame of the said sections.V As`in the case of the frame for the burlap or other covering, wires 36 extend across the wires 35 and are twisted therepoints of intersection as indicated at 37 and shown in Fig. L1.

It will be seen that the construction just described forms a very suitable spring for the structure when utilized as a single or double bed, and as shown in Fig. L1, a mattress 3S is disposed upon the said springs and received within the frame of each section.

Hingedly connected with the ends of the frames of the sections 15 and 16 are head and foot members 39 and 40 which are of any desired form and which may be folded upon the mattress 38 when the structure is in use. as a sofa.

ln order to support the minor bed section in its raised position, I provide in each of the grooves 22 a spring catch 39 above which the ends of the pins are adapted to seat when the said minor bed section is raised.

What is claimed is:

1. A sofa bedstead of the class described comprising a pair of end supporting frames including each upper and lower rails and stiles, a bar connecting the front stiles of the two frames, a seat member supported at its forward end upon the bar, hinged. bed sections, the rear stile of the end frame being provided with grooves, pins carried by one bed section at the ends thereof and working in the grooves, hinge elements connecting the other bed section and the seat section whereby the said bed section may be folded to lie upon the seat section, and supports pivoted to the front of the seat section at each end thereof and foldable to lie within the section or to extend downwardly therefrom to form a support for the same.

2. A sofa bedstead of the class described comprising a pair of end supporting frames `including each upper and lower rails and stiles, a bar connecting the front stiles of the two frames, a seat member supported at its forward end upon the bar, hinged bed sections, the rear stile of the end frame being provided with grooves, pins carried by one bed section at the ends thereof and working in the grooves, spring catches located in the grooves at the upper ends thereof and adapted to be engaged by the pins when the bed section carrying the pins is elevated, hinge elements connecting the other bed section and the seat section whereby the said bed section may be folded to lie u ponv the seat section, and supports )ivoted to the front of the seat section at each end thereof and foldable to lie within the section or to extend downwardly therefrom to form a support for the same.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of witnesses.

HARRY C. AIKEN. Witnesses FLORENCE CANFIELD,v

HENRY L., RUPERT. 

